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In thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal or chest wall lesions the suitable position of ports( trocars) are required depending on the position of a target lesion in a particular patient. We have therefore developed a virtual reality (VR) simulation system using the specific data of each individual patient. The model data generation system, PASS-GEN, is customized for thoracic surgery. The chest wall and organs around the tumor are extracted from DICOM image data of computed tomography (CT) scan, and three-dimensional (3D) virtual images are constructed. Rehearsal of ports insertion is carried out by locating the scope and the forceps anywhere on the chest wall on PC monitor. The constructed VR images clearly show three dimensional relationships between the target and surrounding structures. This system also simulates circumstances where on the chest wall a thoracoscope and tools should be inserted for the better view and more comfortable manipulation. Particularly in mediastinal or chest wall surgery VR simulation is more practical because those structures would be less transformed during operation.

Objectives: To describe the development of a patient-specific simulator for laparoscopic renal surgery., Methods: Image data of each patient scheduled to undergo laparoscopic renal surgery are captured by the simulator, enabling each patient's organs to be reproduced. The surgeon can carry out a preoperative "rehearsal" of the operation by using a simulator based on patient-specific data., Results: The simulator is programmed to be adapted to both laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic surgery. The scope and the trocars can be located anywhere on the skin, and visualized on the monitor of the simulator. Dissection of the renal hilum can be simulated based in the anatomy of each patient. The haptic device of the simulator provides interactive resistance between the organs and surgical tools during the simulation., Conclusions: This patient-specific simulator has been developed with the purpose of providing surgeons with a practical training tool for laparoscopic renal surgery. Using specific data for each patient, the simulator enables surgeons to carry out a "rehearsal" operation., (© 2012 The Japanese Urological Association.)

At the Advanced Medical Research Center at Yokohama City University School of Medicine, we have been developing a practical surgical simulator for renal surgery. Unlike already commercialized laparoscopic surgical simulators, our surgical simulator is capable of using patient-specific models for preoperative training and improvement of laparoscopic surgical skills. We have been evaluating the simulator clinically with the aim of using it in renal surgery training at Yokohama City University Hospital. The simulator can be applied to other types of laparoscopic surgery, such as gynecological, thoracic, and gastrointestinal. Here, we report on the technical aspects of the simulator.